Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad in Fish Camp, California

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Fish Camp, California · Updated October 19, 2026 · 13 min read

Heritage railroad with a museumTrain ridesOpen April through December

The Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad runs geared Shay steam locomotives over a rebuilt stretch of the old Madera Sugar Pine Lumber Company logging grade near Yosemite's south entrance, a family-run narrow gauge line that has been giving visitors a ride into logging history since the 1960s.

  • Shay steam locomotives
  • 3 foot narrow gauge
  • Open April through December
  • Run by the Stauffer family
  • Wheelchair accessible Logger train
  • Gold panning at the depot

Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad at a glance

Hours
April through December; Logger Steam Train runs daily, doors open 9 am to 3 pm
Admission
Logger Steam Train adults $37.10, children $19.08, 2 and under free on a lap (as of October 2026)
Train rides
Daily one-hour Logger Steam Train; First Class Caboose ($63.60) and Cupola ($79.50) seats for ages 3 and up
Seasonal events
Moonlight Special, Moonlight Melodrama, Halloween Limited, Holiday Magic Train, Yosemite Jazz Train, Roosevelt's Birthday Ride
Plan for
2 to 3 hours with gold panning and the museum
Best for
Families visiting Yosemite, from toddlers to grandparents
Best ages
All ages
Accessibility
The Logger Steam Train is wheelchair accessible

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad? Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Fish Camp.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

A Swiss cheesemaker, a logging grade and Shay No. 10

The railroad's story starts far from the Sierra. Rudy Stauffer's family left their cheese business in Hungary in 1944, spent time in Switzerland, and in 1950 sailed on the Queen Mary to a new life in Wisconsin, where they built a successful cheese company. Rudy's godparents lived near the Sugar Pine sawmill close to Yosemite's southern entrance, and Dr. Clarence Wells filled his ears with stories about the steam trains that hauled logs out of the forest. In 1954 Rudy moved the family to land in Fish Camp bought from the Wells, and he and his wife Luce built the Swiss Melody Inn, which happened to sit on the old right of way of the Madera Sugar Pine Lumber Company.

That company, which began in 1874 as the California Lumber Company, once ran more than 140 miles of narrow gauge track across the central Sierra, plus a 54-mile flume carrying lumber down to Madera. Logging stopped in 1931 as timber ran short and the Depression hit. Rudy wanted to bring that history back to life. In 1965 he bought his first Shay locomotive, No. 10, along with logging cars and tons of spare parts, and with Luce and their sons Max, Guido and Bob he built an engine house, ticket office and museum and re-laid two miles of track. The first run came in 1967.

Max Stauffer took over in 1981 and the railroad added a second Shay, No. 15, and more passenger cars. Max died in 2017, the same year the Railroad Fire destroyed several pieces of stored equipment, but the Stauffer family still runs the line, and Wikipedia reports a third Shay, No. 12, joined in 2026 from the Colorado Railroad Museum.

Four miles of logging grade at 5,000 feet

The depot sits along Highway 41 at about 5,000 feet. The daily Logger Steam Train makes a one-hour, four-mile round trip south along the old Madera Sugar Pine grade through pine and mixed conifer forest, with conductors narrating the logging history as you go. Riders sit in open-air log cars or covered cars, and huge stumps from the old-growth harvest are still visible along the way. The only stop is a loop in Lewis Creek Canyon with a picnic area and an outdoor amphitheater, and the climb back to the depot is a 4.5 percent grade, the kind of hill geared Shays were built for.

Back at the depot, the Thornberry Museum fills a relocated 19th-century log cabin with exhibits on Sierra Nevada logging history. You can also try gold panning, look over the West Side Lumber Company's narrow gauge snowplow No. 2, browse the Sugar Pine Trading Company gift shop and bookstore, and let kids loose in the Kids' Depot Toy Store.

Don’t miss

  1. Shay No. 10Built in 1928, it has been described as the largest narrow gauge Shay ever built, and it was the engine that started the railroad.
  2. Shay No. 15A second former West Side Lumber Company Shay, added under Max Stauffer's ownership.
  3. Thornberry MuseumA relocated 19th-century log cabin at the depot with exhibits on Sierra logging.
  4. Lewis Creek Canyon loopThe midway stop with picnic grounds and the amphitheater used for the evening shows.
  5. Snowplow No. 2A narrow gauge snowplow from the West Side Lumber Company, parked at the depot.
  6. Old-growth stumpsGiant stumps left from logging between 1899 and 1931 line parts of the route.

Open log cars, gold pans and a toy store

The Logger Steam Train is a good length for small kids: an hour, with a stop in the canyon, and the open-air log cars let them hear and smell the Shay working up the hill. Children 2 and under ride free on a lap. Afterward, gold panning and the Kids' Depot Toy Store give them more to do at the depot.

The railroad offers a Little Logger Snack Pack with the boxed lunches. The Logger train is wheelchair accessible, and since trains run rain or shine in open and covered cars, bring layers for the mountain weather. In October the Halloween Limited adds costume contests and trick-or-treating.

Plan your visit: tips for Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad

  • If Adult or Child tickets cannot be selected online, only First Class seats remain for that train.
  • Dress for the weather: trains run rain or shine with open-air log cars.
  • Order a boxed lunch ($10 to $16) or the Little Logger Snack Pack to eat on the trip.
  • From Fresno it is about 60 miles north on Highway 41, 19 miles past Oakhurst.
  • Book Yosemite Jazz Train tickets through jazzconcerts.com, not the railroad's own site.

Evenings are a big part of the season here. The Moonlight Special and Moonlight Melodrama pair a barbecue dinner at the depot with a steam train ride to Lewis Creek Canyon, where the Golden Chain Theatre performs at the amphitheater on Melodrama nights. In October the Halloween Limited brings costumes, trick-or-treating and food, and in December the Holiday Magic Train runs an hour among twinkling lights with hot cocoa. Compare them with other Halloween train rides in California and California Christmas trains.

Three generations of Stauffers

The Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad is a family business: Rudy and Luce Stauffer built it with their sons, Max ran it from 1981 until his death in 2017, and the Stauffer family runs it today. Its stated mission is to inspire learning and fun through local history. Visitors support it by riding, buying from the gift shop and toy store, and booking group tours or weddings.

More rail history in the Sierra

Head north to Railtown 1897 State Historic Park in Jamestown, about 54 miles away, to see where the Sierra Railroad kept its shops. Over the mountains, the Laws Railroad Museum near Bishop is about 71 miles away on the map, on the far side of the Sierra. Find more with our list of every train museum in California.

Every train museum in California

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of a conductor in a blue suit shaking Rally's paw on the train
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

On the Logger Steam Train, the conductors tell the logging story as the Shay climbs through the pines. I love that a real person guides the ride. In our book, Mr. Conductor wears a blue uniform and holds out his hand to welcome Rally aboard, and that kindness is what my mom wanted the story to feel like. If your little one wants to draw their own conductor, our coloring pages have one waiting.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.

Get the free coloring pages
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Work or volunteer at Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad?

We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad: 20 questions families ask

How much are tickets for the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad?

As of October 2026 the Logger Steam Train costs $37.10 for adults and $19.08 for children, and kids 2 and under ride free on a lap. First Class Caboose seats are $63.60 and First Class Cupola seats are $79.50 for ages 3 and up. Evening and holiday trains are priced separately, starting around $47.70 to $135.

How do I buy Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad tickets?

Book online at ymsprr.com, where each train shows live availability. If a train shows availability but you cannot select Adult or Child tickets, only First Class seats are left. Yosemite Jazz Train tickets are sold through jazzconcerts.com instead. You can also redeem gift vouchers online, and groups of 20 or more have their own booking option.

Are there discounts or promo codes for the Sugar Pine Railroad?

The railroad does not post a standing discount code online. It runs occasional deals, such as a two-for-one Bring Your Bestie offer on National Best Friends Day in June 2026, and it has group booking for parties of 20 or more. Kids 2 and under ride free on a lap. Call (559) 683-7273 to ask about current offers.

What is the Logger Steam Train ride like?

It is a one-hour narrated trip, four miles round trip, along the old Madera Sugar Pine Lumber Company logging grade. Conductors explain where lumberjacks once felled giant trees, and the train stops at a loop in Lewis Creek Canyon before climbing a 4.5 percent grade back to the depot. You ride in open-air log cars or covered cars.

Is the Sugar Pine Railroad ride narrated?

Yes. Every daily Logger Steam Train trip is a one-hour tour narrated by the railroad's conductors, who share the area's logging history and point out where trees were cut for the mill. Large stumps from the original old-growth forest are still visible along the route and often come up in the narration.

What is the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad Moonlight Special?

The Moonlight Special is an evening dinner train. Guests enjoy a barbecue dinner, then ride the steam train through the forest to Lewis Creek Canyon for a stop with entertainment. As of October 2026 it starts at $95.40 and lasts about three hours. The Moonlight Melodrama is similar but adds a show by the Golden Chain Theatre.

What is the Sugar Pine Railroad route?

The line runs about two miles south from the depot in Fish Camp along part of the former Madera Sugar Pine Lumber Company logging grade, through ponderosa pine and mixed conifer forest in the Sierra National Forest. The only stop is a loop in Lewis Creek Canyon, where there is a picnic area and amphitheater, before the train returns.

What is the weather like at the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad?

The depot sits at about 5,000 feet in the Sierra National Forest, so it can be cooler than the valley towns below. The railroad runs rain or shine with both covered cars and open-air log cars, and it asks guests to come prepared for any type of weather. Check a mountain forecast for Fish Camp before you leave.

Where is the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad?

The railroad is at 56001 Highway 41 in Fish Camp, California 93623, about 10 minutes from the southern entrance to Yosemite National Park. From Fresno, drive north on Highway 41 through Coarsegold and Oakhurst; the railroad is about 60 miles north of Fresno and 19 miles north of Oakhurst. Fresno International is the closest airport.

What is the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad schedule?

The railroad is open April through December, and the Logger Steam Train runs daily during the season, with doors open from 9 am to 3 pm as of October 2026. Departure times vary, so check the schedule on ymsprr.com when booking. Evening Moonlight trains and holiday trains run only on select dates.

Is there parking at the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad?

The railroad's website does not give parking details on the pages reviewed for this guide. The depot sits right on Highway 41 in Fish Camp, and visitors drive in from Oakhurst or from Yosemite's south entrance. For large group buses or event night parking, call (559) 683-7273 before you go.

Does the Sugar Pine Railroad run Christmas trains?

Yes. The Holiday Magic Train is a one-hour evening ride among twinkling lights, with hot cocoa included, and it is open to all ages. As of October 2026 it starts at $63.60, with prices varying by date. The railroad is open through December, so book holiday dates early on ymsprr.com.

Does the Sugar Pine Railroad have a Halloween train?

Yes. The Halloween Limited is a spooky family evening with costume contests, trick-or-treating and food, lasting about three and a half hours. As of October 2026 it starts at $63.60 and is open to all ages. Dates are posted each fall on the railroad's website.

What upcoming events does the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad host?

Besides the daily Logger train, the railroad runs the Moonlight Special and Moonlight Melodrama dinner trains, the Halloween Limited, the Holiday Magic Train and the Yosemite Jazz Train on select Sundays. It has also hosted Roosevelt's Birthday Ride, a storytelling trip with author Chris Epting. See the events calendar on ymsprr.com.

What is Shay No. 10 at the Sugar Pine Railroad?

No. 10 is the three-truck Shay steam locomotive that started the railroad. Rudy Stauffer bought it in 1965 from the old West Side Lumber Company operation in Tuolumne. Built in 1928, it has been described as the largest narrow gauge Shay locomotive ever built and was among the last ones made.

Who owns the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad?

The Stauffer family. Rudy Stauffer founded the railroad with his wife Luce and sons Max, Guido and Bob, and the first run came in 1967. Max took over in 1981 and ran it until his death in 2017, and the family still operates it. It sits on the old Madera Sugar Pine Lumber Company grade.

Is the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad good for toddlers?

Yes. The Logger Steam Train is listed for all ages, takes about an hour, and children 2 and under ride free on a lap. Open log cars give little ones a good view, and the depot adds gold panning and the Kids' Depot Toy Store. A Little Logger Snack Pack is sold with the boxed lunches.

Is the Sugar Pine Railroad wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The railroad lists the Logger Steam Train as wheelchair accessible and handicap accessible, and its evening Moonlight trains, Halloween Limited and Jazz Train carry the same wheelchair accessible label. Call (559) 683-7273 ahead of time if you need help with seating or boarding on a specific date.

What else is there to do at the Sugar Pine Railroad besides the train?

The depot has gold panning, the Thornberry Museum in a relocated 19th-century log cabin with logging history exhibits, the Sugar Pine Trading Company gift shop and bookstore, and the Kids' Depot Toy Store. You can also see the West Side Lumber Company's narrow gauge snowplow No. 2. Boxed lunches run $10 to $16.

Is the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad worth it?

For families heading in or out of Yosemite's south entrance, it is an easy add: an hour-long narrated steam ride on a real logging grade, plus gold panning and a small museum. It has been filmed for television, including a 2007 episode of California's Gold. Check reviews on TripAdvisor and its Facebook page for recent visitor photos.

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